A 63-year-old grandfather, Neville Linton, had a startling encounter with a live snake hidden within a bag of broccoli he purchased from an Aldi store in Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK. The incident occurred after Linton bought the broccoli on June 2nd and stored it in his refrigerator. Three days later, while preparing a meal, he discovered the young ladder snake nestled among the florets.

Admitting his fear of snakes, Linton enlisted the help of relatives to contain the reptile. Concerned about the potential danger to his disabled son and vulnerable mother-in-law, who reside with him, Linton expressed relief that he hadn't left the broccoli out in the open. He emphasized the significant risk the loose snake would have posed to his family.

Linton's sister identified the reptile, and together they transported it back to the Aldi store in a plastic container. The store employee was equally surprised by the unexpected discovery. The snake was later identified as a young ladder snake by a specialist at Dudley Zoo. Although non-venomous, ladder snakes are known to become aggressive when threatened and emit a foul odor.

While Aldi offered compensation, Linton believes the amount is insufficient considering the potential risk to his family and the emotional distress caused by his phobia of snakes. Aldi is currently investigating the incident and has issued an apology to Mr. Linton for the lapse in their usual high standards. Ladder snakes are typically found in Southern Europe and prefer habitats with scrubby vegetation, stones, and shade.